Useful Information

Current Operations

Member Harry Bender provided this up-to-date slide showing the current distribution of B-52s. Note that those still at the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group at Davis Monthan are included. The acronyms stand for: TAI, Total Aircraft Inventory; CC, Combat Coded; BAI, Backup Aircraft Inventory; AR, Attrition Reserve; CB, Operational Test and Evaluation; TF, Training Funded; and GITA, Ground Instructional Training Aircraft (not included in the 76 number).

Weapons Carriage Capability of the B-52H

Having received numerous requests for "How many bombs can the
B-52 carry?", we put together this list:

CONVENTIONAL

Bombs

MK82 (500 lb) - 51

MK84 (2000 lb) - 18

MK117 (750 lb) - 51

BDU-48 - 17

CBU

CBU-87 - 40

CBU-89 - 42

Laser Guided

GBU-10 - 8 to 10

GBU-12 - 10

GBU-28 - 4

Other Advanced

JDAM - 12 JSOW - 12 (in development) WCMD - 16

Missiles

Conventional Air Launched Cruise Missiles (CALCM) - 20

Harpoon (Anti-Ship Missile) - 8

AGM-142 (television guided missile) - 4 [Normal load is 3
with a controller, 4 can be carried with a
"hand off to another aircraft with a controller pod
installed.]

Mines

MK56 - 20

MK62 - 51

MK63 - 18

MK65 - 18

NUCLEAR

Advanced Cruise Missiles (ACM) - 12

Air Launched Cruise Missiles
(ALCM) - 20

Bombs - 8

NOTE 1: Please note that these are MAXIMUM configurations and
do not necessarily indicate loads commonly carried on the aircraft.
Capacities as listed are for carriage of that weapon type only
and not in combination with other weapons. For example, you cannot
carry 51 500 lb bombs and 30 1000 lb bombs at the same time.

NOTE 2: We have received a number of letters stating something
to the effect that "I know the aircraft can carry more bombs
than you say", etc. Many people recall that the "Big
Belly" modified D models could carry many more weapons (which
they could). The H cannot carry as many bombs as the modified D's
could. There may be variations where it is possible to carry more
or less weapons than indicated here.